Niger’s military junta says it is severing military agreements with France, its former colonial ruler. It's also firing some of the previous government’s key ambassadors and warning citizens of the West African nation to watch for foreign armies and spies
The junta’s announcement brought further skepticism about any deal. It said it was terminating the military agreements and protocols signed with France and announced the end of functions for Niger’s ambassadors to France, the United States, Togo and neighboring Nigeria, which is leading ECOWAS efforts on dialogue.
that are led by military juntas, but said that’s now at risk because Niger would lose aid from foreign partners and extremist groups would take advantage of the country’s instability. France has 1,500 military personnel in Niger, which had been envisioned as the base for counterterror operations in the region after anti-French sentiments grew elsewhere.
The ECOWAS delegation is led by former Nigerian head of state Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. A second group led by Ambassador Babagana Kingibe has gone to engage with the leaders of neighboring Libya and Algeria, said Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to Nigeria’s president.“I don’t expect mediation efforts to bear fruit in the short term. The junta is digging in ... Seems like uncharted territory,” said Alex Thurston, assistant professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati.
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